Lighting system for motor-vehicles.



R. HEAD.

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLE&

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1910.

1,157,105. Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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'MUTNESSES R. HEAD.

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

, APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 1910.

1,157,105. 1 Patentd Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WM V 1 206615 Head A TTORNYS COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0" WASHINGTON, D. c.

. zen oi the United States, residin in their STATES rernnronnrcn T RQBERT HEAD, on NEW YORK, a; i'.,lesstel ion To .mlvrns w. OUTERSGN, on

YORK; n. Y.

' LIGHTING sYs'nnnt non MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Beit known that I, cranial" HEAD, a cltlcity of- New Yong borough of Manhattan; county following is a s ecification-.7 This iilVefi'tiOll i's'a hgjhting'systern, the same being intended for use on vehicles ct all kinds, and more particularly on meter; vehicles, although the system, or,

for i'llunnnating purthereof, be used poses generally.

I will liereai'tei described my invention as adapted for lighting one or more head lights of a motor vehie1e','marine craft, etc, but it is manifest that the system may be adapted for lighting the tail lights or the side lights, or all the lights usedhis signaling and illuminating purposes on the vehicle.

My system embodies di tinctly novel fee 1 tunes for controlling the flow of an illfiini:

nating gas to the lamp or lamps, and in the generation of an electric spark at the point of ignition at the said lamp or lamps, where: by the gas is first turned on andiminech tely thereafter the ignition spark is est blished for the purposeof lighting one or more lamps in the illuminating circuit.

In a preferred form, the means for es itablishing the flotvof gas, and the means ber acts to first turn on the gas flow and forc'ontrollin the reduction of the i9ni tion spark, are both operated by a manually operated meinber common to the aforesaid device's.

is adapted by movement in'one direction to open the gas lion? and to establish the ignition sparkybuta movement of said member in a reverse direction cuts efi the ga s new and breaks the circuit generatin the spark. Furthermore, the manually operated mem after the lapse of an 'appreeiable interval of time, to establish the ignition; sp'ark, where by the; gas will he" p'efifiittedto. flow to the burner 01- burners bythe time the sarl is generated whereby a gas valve' and an eletrio switch will be operated succe sively and indue order;

It is desirable to preclude tampering with the lighting apparatus, as when a eliaufi'eur is not i attendants u on a venue with the twenties. this end;

Specification of Letters Patent.

and State of New York, have in vented a certain new and iiseffil Lighting System forMotof-VhileS, f which the vi co.

Said manuall operated member Patented Oct. 19, 1915,

' A pplic t-ioii flied Illovieniber s, 191 strains. 11,224.

aemamn operated memberis mbodied in the for-in of a Wrench or'key adapted to be removed from operative relation toth'e parts coiperating therewith; I

a other: features cfthe intention will appear in the course of the annexed detailed description; a a l I In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the i v ntiembut the construction shown there- 11118420 be understood asinust'rative, only, nd not as defining the limits of the invention I IFigur'e 1 is a dia rammatiwiw illustiat- 7 ing the invention adapted ror use on x'fiotoi" vehicles andillustrating lights inthe lighting'systeina Fig. 2.18 a;

plurality of head Vertical sectional view through one of the headligilhts, illustrating ag'as biirner and" ting termin ls of an electric cirdiiit in coe emtion to said gas burner. Fig; 3 is the lig an" enlarged detail view of b'iirner equippe'd'with apart of the'iiivn't-ion and lamp. Fig.- 4 is a plan View of the burner shown in Figs. sand Fig. 5 is an en lar'ge'd view in erticalsection illustrating one embodiment of a valved gas fitting and; an electric circuit controller or switch niec'h anism' adapted for Operation by a single de- Fig. 6 is a front viewer thedevice adapted for attachment to an ordinary shown in Fig." 5, Figs. 7 and 8 are plan o Views of the device shown in l igs. hand 6, illustrating two positions or the circuit controlling or switching mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detailed View of the gas fitting shown in Figs. 5' ands with the electrical appliances disconnected the efrom, Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the Wrench or key adapted fonus'edn' connection with the circuit controlling" of s'witch nichanis'ln of Figs; 5 to 8, inclusive. i I 7 efeiring to dia mm,-Fig. 1:, A, B; designate a plurality of lamps. C, are gas burners positioned Within said lamps, and supplied with gas fern a generator or tank;

are-cenne-eted'with aha-li e fitting; E, pro:

vided with we valves- E, E Valve E. being operated by removable, key or D, b pipes, (Ad' d d The pipes (Z; (l'f, I

' acter, T.

gas which flows through the fitting to the burners. Each burner is equipped with terminals g, g, of a lighting circuit, G, said lighting circuit including batteries, h, and a spark coil, h and a switch mechanism indicated in its entirety by the reference char- This switch mechanism includes two contacts, 2', 2", shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8 and the moving contact 9'. said moving contact being under the control of 7 Each lamp, A or B, is of ordinary construction, the same being provided with ventilating openings in a hood, a, a refiector, Z), at the rear of the lamp and a glass pane, b, at the front of the lamp, but the detailed construction of the lamp may be varied within wide limits, and according to the style or type of lamp used in the light circuit.

WVhen the system is used in conjunction with the head lights on an automobile, the

lamps should be provided with reflectors,

but these reflectors are'not necessary ordinarily when using the light system in conjunction with the side or tail lights of automobiles.

It is preferred to employ a burner, C, of the form illustrated more particularly in Figs. 8 and 4. As shown, the burner comprises a tube adapted to be secured upon a nipple, 0, which is attached to the base of the lamp in a manner to communicate with one of the two branch pipes, (Z or (la. The burner tube is composed of metal in order to serve as an electrical conductor as well as a gas conduit, such tube being provided at its upper part with a. burner tip, C. Or

dinarily acetylene gas is employed for lighting the headlights of an automobile, and the tip shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided with two orifices or gas outlets, 0, whereby gas will issue in jets to impinge against each other in a well known manner.

One lighting terminal, as g, is rigidly fastened in any suitable way to the tube of burner, C, in a manner to'be supported mechanically by said burner tube and to be in electrical contact therewith. The other terminal, g, is attached rigidly to a sleeve, 9 which is fitted on the burner tube and is insulatedelectrically therefrom, at 9 With this sleeve, 9 engages a spring contact, 9,

the latter having a bent lower end, is, which is insulated at 76 from the base of the lamp, such insulated contact being fastened to the contact being fastened in position by a binding post Z The terminals, 9, g, of the lighting circuit associated with each burner are positioned to lie close to the gas jets issuing from the orifices of tip, 0, whereby an electrical spark which jumps from one terminal to the other will operate to ignite thegas and produce the required light. As shown in the diagram, Fig, 1, a conductor, m, of lighting circuit, G, leads from'battery, h, to binding post, it, of lamp, A, so that the current will pass through contact, 9 sleeve, 9 and terminals, g, the spark jumping across to the other terminals, 9, and the current passing through the tube or burner, C, to contact, Z, and binding post, Z From binding post, Z runs a conductor, m, which is shown as extending to a binding post, Z of lamp, C, so that the current will flow through contact Z, the tube or burner, G, positioned in lamp, B, thence through terminal, 9, across to terminal, 9, thence through sleeve, 9 contact g and binding post, 7& of said lamp, 3. From the binding post, Z0 of lamp, B, runs a conductor, m which is shown as extending to switch contact, a". Conductor, m, leads from the battery to spark coil, it, and thence to the other switch contact, 73, whereby the circuit will be completed when the moving switch contact, j, bridges the space between switch contact, 6, i. The tank or generator, D, may be ofany suitable character. If acetylene gas is to be employed as the lighting medium I provide a generator of one well known form or another, but it is not intended to limit the invention to the employment of an acetylene gas generator, for the reason that any other type of generator may be used and I may, also, employ a tank for holding gas under pressure. From the tank or generator, D, extends a pipe, cl, the same being connected with a fitting, E.

In one form of the invention I employ fitting adapted to be attached to the dash board of an automobile, but it is not desired to limit the invention to use in connection with this particular type of-fitting, for the reason that other constructions may be emplayed for controlling the flow of gas from the generator or tank to the burners. As shown, fitting, E, comprises two horizontal members or legs, 6, c, and a vertical member or leg, 6 said vertical member connecting the horizontal members. The horizontal members are provided with collars, e and with nuts, 6 whereby members, 6, c, are adapted to be inserted through apertures of the dashboard, 0, so that collars, c and mate, c will cooperatewith the dash board tin . said valve seat accommodating n fi le valve,

E, .Whichpasses through the stuifing box. Said needle valve is adapted tov be adjusted for cutting off the flow' oii gaslth'rough the fitting, or for establishing the flow of gas from-the generator to pipe, cl, the latterbev ing attached to member, 6', ot the fitting, whereby gas will flow through branches, 0?, d to the burners within lamps, A.

Valve, E, is-shown as extending a suitable distance above the vertical member of the fitting, said valve'having a square or polygonal extremity, 9. Key or wrench F, is provided with a square; or polygonal aperture, for the-purposeof engaging withthe correspondingly shaped end, Q, of whereby the key or wrench is adapted tov be placed in .-po"s-i tive position upon the valve for the purpose: of opening cl i g i i or wrench may be readily disconnected from the valve in order that persons other than thy; chaufieur may not tamper with-said va ve. V

i The switch mechanism which controls the electric circuit may be of any suitable construct1on, but, as shown herein, sald swltch me ani m in ud a a ab ev m m n Q:- Said member is in the form of a disk fitted loosely upon. a cylindrical- PI'OtI'LlCllIL' part of valve, E, whereby the disk is recto turn independently of the valve. The disk isrprovided with a niovingswitoh contact, 7', h a ter e ng ins l ec r cal y t, 7' Furt ermo e.- th i i Pro ided ,W th a m er, (1, d p t 11.6V in hepat of a sh ulde f-l g, f, of the key r Wr ch, W e e v aid v or re h: is adapte to. p rat i d k,

turning the disk when the gas. valve is opened. The rotatable disk.-- is under the action of a retractor, herein shown-as a spring, R, said spring being mounted loosely upon the protruding end of valve, E. The spring is provided with two arms, r, r, the f rme engagi g th t v at ,;Rf,f ing a Par f ing, h e t e. c he a n,

m, engages with, or is attached to, disk,:Q.;

he spring acts on the disk to turn it-normally into positionof 7 for the pjur-z pose ofrctaining the movable switch contact, j, ontof engagement with bothstationary switch contacts, as; i, '11, but when the h -Wr n is in P$iti or. its 1 to he e i h memb r, a, n t e disk, b a.

a ni v m n't Qfsaid kev or Wrenchtrem the dotted line position of Fig. 7 to thedotted and atthe same time said key e he purpose, a

thereby causing con:-

11 of Fig 8 will operatememher, Y

to; engage with both contactsxz, i,

Fitting,- n, is provideid with plate, :a', for

the purpose of supporting stationary switch contacts in {ree'r relation to the movswitch contact, 7',

said switch contacts,

c, z", being insulated at s'from plate; R and said switch contacts.- being fixed imposition on said-plate-by binding posts, 8-; the:lat-

ter' operating to secure contacts, 6,- i", and

conductcrs, m, m instationary positions up n e pla nd the gas valve fitting.

, In Fig, 9; I have, shown the gas. valve I fitting independently of the electrical switch m chan m, pla from said valve; fitting; v The operation, of the invention will be apparent from the; foregoing description, bu may e summarized briefiv l w e R, being disconnected The gasifnder pressure is stored in tank" 01 Y I off-any flow of gas ,irom the tanker genert l tetheaburhers. Yalve E 'isadju ed to, r gulat th flow re t af efi isu h a justment- Forlighting lamps, the ererators mp y pp e the or wrench to valve, E, and movcs said key or wrenoh through an arcofaz circle from the dotted -line position ingFig: 7' to;

that of -Upon the applicationzf $11.9; i??- the. polygonal end, of valve E,

of the volume .ofgas, and said valve is permitted toqremai-n at;

lug, j ,of said ktkYfi lgages. vvith memberag oi he dish;

i, It will be seen that. gas is. permitted to, flow t0, heburileris of the lamps byope ns The movement ofv the: rench opens v lve, E; and ns di hQ- for contact, 7 j, to engage with both contacts,

ing valvefE', and immediately thereafter the electric circuit is closed, by contact, j;

bFirdgil g-c fq ltactsii, 6'', whereby the batteryand spark;,ceil operate; towproduce"; jump park 3 1$ 1 6 p urality of burners.

and under ccnt'roliof the chauffeur, thusre' lieving the chauffeur from the necessity of to light the lamps;

leaving his station When the key or wrench is removed from valve, E spring,. R, acts to-return' disk, Q, i

and contact," j, to normal positions, thus eX- tingnishing the lighting circuit and pre eluding waste ef electrical. energy after the la nps-sha'li'have beenl ighted.

It will be observed v The. gas is thus fil sbturnefd on and 'the'jump sparks? immediately produ'c'ed: thereafter whereby the gas is lighted without appreciable loss; more, a plurality of lamps are lighted from mechanism: positionednonathe dash board that burner, G, of

each lamp carries the electric lighting terminals in operative relation to the gas outlet, and that said burner cooperates with two circuit contacts which are positioned within the lamp. Said burner may easily be removed from the lamp without disturbing the circuit contacts, whereby a wornout or clogged burner may be dismounted and a fresh burner substituted therefor without requiring'any special skill on the part of the operator. 7

In describing one embodiment of'the invention the lamps and burners are shown as included in series'in the electric circuit, that is to say, the current passes between the terminals ofone burner and thence to the terminals of the next burner, but it is not desired to limit the invention to this specific organization of the circuit to the burners thereinfor the reason that the burners may be supplied with electric energy separately.

.I-Iaving thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing provided with a duct, a valve having a threaded stem cooperating with said duct for the purpose of allowing or precluding the passage of material through said duct, an electric circuit 1 having a pair of spaced contacts positioned adjacent the valve stem, circuit closing means positioned adjacent the spaced contacts and mounted on the valve stem, a tension member normally retaining the circuit closing means out of engagement with the contacts, and valve operating means detachably mounted on the valve stem, and adapted for engagement with the circuit closing means, whereby the actuation of the valve operating means, operates the valve to allow the passage of material through the duct, and simultaneously brings the circuit closing mechanism into engagement with the spaced contacts, such valve operating means being thereafter adapted to be removed from the valve stem whereupon the tension memher is adapted to return the circuit closing means to its initial position.

2. In a device of the class combination of a casing provided with a duct, a valve having athreaded stem cooperating with said duct for the purpose of allowing or precludingthe passage of material through said duct, an electric circuit having a pair of spaced contacts positioned adjacent the valve stem, circuit closing means loosely mounted on the valve stem,-'a tension member normally retaining the circuit closing means out of engagement with the contacts, and valve operating means detachably mounted on the valve stem, and

adapted for engagement with the circuit closing means, whereby the actuation of the described, the

valve operating means, operates the valve to allow the passage of material through the duct, and simultaneously brings the circuit closing mechanism into engagement with the spaced contacts, such valve operating means being thereafter adapted to be removed from the valve stem whereupon the tension member is adapted to return the circuitclosing means to its initial position.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing having a passage therein, inlet and outlet ducts communicating with said passage, a threaded needle valve extending into the passage of the casing and adapted to cooperate with a valve seat intermediate the inlet and outlet ducts for the purpose of governing the flow of material through the latter, and means for actuating'said needle valve, in combination with an electric circuit having spaced contacts exterior of the casing, a rotatable member loosely mounted on the stem of the needle valve and provided with a conducting portion adapted to engage with the contacts of the electric circuit for the purpose of completing the same, means for normally maintaining the rotatable member in its-inoperative position, and cooperating means onwthe rotatable member and on the valve operating means for moving the former into a position to complete the circuit when the latter is operated to allow of the passage of material through the outlet of the casing.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with a duct, and a needle valve projecting into said duct for governing the flow of gas therethrough, said needle valve having'a stem extending e'xteriorly of the casing, in combination with an electric circuit having spaced contacts, a rotatable, circuit closing member cooperating with said contacts, a spring for normally maintaining the circuit open, means detachably mounted on the valve stem for operating the valve, and cooperating means mounted on the circuit closing member and on the valve operating means for actuating the former to close the circuit against the tension of the spring when the latter is operated to open the valve, said spring being operable to return the circuit closer to its normally open position, upon the removal of the valve operating means from the valve stem.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with a duct, and a needle valve mechanism cooperatmg therewith, a spring for normally mamtalning the clrcuit closing member in its circuit opening position,.

and means for operating the valve to allow of the flow of gas through the duct and for simultaneously shifting the circuit closer to its circuit-closing position, said Valve actuating means being operable to release the circuit-closing mechanism, whereupon the spring operates to return the same to its normally open position.

name to this Witnesses 1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaoh, by addres Washington, D. 0.?

J. F. MoTHERsHEAD',

f In testimony vwhereof I have signed I specification in the presence of v, two subscribing itnesses;

OBERT HEAD,

BE NHa D.

sing the Commissioner of Patents. 

